DarthGonzo
11-24-2001, 01:14 PM
Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl
released September 16, 1950
directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
animated by Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge and Irven Spence
musical direction by Scott Bradley
Summary
Tom is conducting "Die Fledermaus" at the Hollywood Bowl with an orchestra comprised entirely of tan cats that look exactly like him. Jerry, dressed in a tiny coat and tails, rushes in to help Tom conduct. Tom tries to shake the persistant mouse, who pops out of Tom's sleaves and his shirt front, trying to take over the conductor duties. Finally, Tom drops Jerry down a large tuba. When Jerry returns to Tom's podium, he tricks the cat into waltzing with him, and then spins Tom into the orchestra. Tom returns to the podium and flicks Jerry's conductor stick away like a toothpick. Jerry snaps Tom's stick in two, only to have the smug cat pull out an extra from his coat. Jerry nails wheels to the platform Tom is standing on and pushes him out into traffic. Finally, Tom smashes Jerry between a pair of cymbals, the little pancake-mouse floating gently to the ground. Fed up, Jerry grabs a saw and heads under the orchestra pit, sawing holes under the musicians, causing them to drop into the ground one by one. Trying to save face and keep the music going, Tom is forced to dart around the orchestra pit, playing the instruments like a one-man band. Finally, the concert ends and Jerry, now conducting, takes a bow. An exhausted Tom bows as well, only to drop out of sight through a hole in the floor.
Commentary
It's hard to do a review of The Hollywood Bowl justice without saying, "That was good, but Cat Concerto was better." Indeed, The Hollywood Bowl seems like a determined attempt to redo one of the greatest Tom and Jerry cartoons of all time. With such a tough, Oscar winning act to follow, it was only obvious that it couldnt be done. Nevertheless, The Hollywood Bowl is still a fine cartoon, and viewed on it's own merits is rather enjoyable. Like Cat Concerto, the music fits the visuals well. However, since the music is coming from a seperate entity than the two main characters, the skill of matching character actions to the music is not there. What made Cat Concerto so amazing is that Tom was the one creating the music, and the conflict stemmed from the fact that the cat not only had to play "Hungarian Rhapsody" but he also had to contend with Jerry. With the musicians playing "Die Fledermaus", the conflict is not there until the very end of the cartoon, when Tom has to take over all the music. The end of the cartoon is definitely the most successful part of The Hollywood Bowl, especially the look on Tom's face as musicians start dropping left and right. There are not very many funny gags in the earlier part of the cartoon, although one deserves mention. After Jerry nails wheels to Toms platform and pushes the cat out into the street, Tom just stands there with his eyes closed, as if he never left the concert. A bus suddenly appears out of nowhere and runs over the cat with a hilarious sounding "pbthththth!!!"
The animation is terrific in this cartoon, mainly because Ray Patterson and Kenneth Muse handle a bulk of the material. Patterson's animation is especially good, and his timing on portions of the final scene is brilliant. Ed Barge and Irven Spence have very little to do, however, which is fine. Very often it seems as if Patterson and Muse are the one's who arent given enough to do.
It is hard to comment on the music here. There is no typical Scott Bradley score in this cartoon. Even the traditional Tom and Jerry theme over the opening titles is absent. Not being a music expert, I'm not one to critique something like "Die Fledermaus". It's pleasant to listen to, but it's no "Hungarian Rhapsody".
Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl is a tough cartoon to discuss, mainly because there are too many comparisons to the superior [B]Cat Concerto[/B . It's a fine cartoon, but it does not really hold up to repeated viewings.
released September 16, 1950
directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
animated by Ray Patterson, Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge and Irven Spence
musical direction by Scott Bradley
Summary
Tom is conducting "Die Fledermaus" at the Hollywood Bowl with an orchestra comprised entirely of tan cats that look exactly like him. Jerry, dressed in a tiny coat and tails, rushes in to help Tom conduct. Tom tries to shake the persistant mouse, who pops out of Tom's sleaves and his shirt front, trying to take over the conductor duties. Finally, Tom drops Jerry down a large tuba. When Jerry returns to Tom's podium, he tricks the cat into waltzing with him, and then spins Tom into the orchestra. Tom returns to the podium and flicks Jerry's conductor stick away like a toothpick. Jerry snaps Tom's stick in two, only to have the smug cat pull out an extra from his coat. Jerry nails wheels to the platform Tom is standing on and pushes him out into traffic. Finally, Tom smashes Jerry between a pair of cymbals, the little pancake-mouse floating gently to the ground. Fed up, Jerry grabs a saw and heads under the orchestra pit, sawing holes under the musicians, causing them to drop into the ground one by one. Trying to save face and keep the music going, Tom is forced to dart around the orchestra pit, playing the instruments like a one-man band. Finally, the concert ends and Jerry, now conducting, takes a bow. An exhausted Tom bows as well, only to drop out of sight through a hole in the floor.
Commentary
It's hard to do a review of The Hollywood Bowl justice without saying, "That was good, but Cat Concerto was better." Indeed, The Hollywood Bowl seems like a determined attempt to redo one of the greatest Tom and Jerry cartoons of all time. With such a tough, Oscar winning act to follow, it was only obvious that it couldnt be done. Nevertheless, The Hollywood Bowl is still a fine cartoon, and viewed on it's own merits is rather enjoyable. Like Cat Concerto, the music fits the visuals well. However, since the music is coming from a seperate entity than the two main characters, the skill of matching character actions to the music is not there. What made Cat Concerto so amazing is that Tom was the one creating the music, and the conflict stemmed from the fact that the cat not only had to play "Hungarian Rhapsody" but he also had to contend with Jerry. With the musicians playing "Die Fledermaus", the conflict is not there until the very end of the cartoon, when Tom has to take over all the music. The end of the cartoon is definitely the most successful part of The Hollywood Bowl, especially the look on Tom's face as musicians start dropping left and right. There are not very many funny gags in the earlier part of the cartoon, although one deserves mention. After Jerry nails wheels to Toms platform and pushes the cat out into the street, Tom just stands there with his eyes closed, as if he never left the concert. A bus suddenly appears out of nowhere and runs over the cat with a hilarious sounding "pbthththth!!!"
The animation is terrific in this cartoon, mainly because Ray Patterson and Kenneth Muse handle a bulk of the material. Patterson's animation is especially good, and his timing on portions of the final scene is brilliant. Ed Barge and Irven Spence have very little to do, however, which is fine. Very often it seems as if Patterson and Muse are the one's who arent given enough to do.
It is hard to comment on the music here. There is no typical Scott Bradley score in this cartoon. Even the traditional Tom and Jerry theme over the opening titles is absent. Not being a music expert, I'm not one to critique something like "Die Fledermaus". It's pleasant to listen to, but it's no "Hungarian Rhapsody".
Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl is a tough cartoon to discuss, mainly because there are too many comparisons to the superior [B]Cat Concerto[/B . It's a fine cartoon, but it does not really hold up to repeated viewings.